When do I use 'estos' versus 'estas'?

Use 'estos' before masculine plural nouns and 'estas' before feminine plural nouns — the gender of the demonstrative must always match the noun it modifies.

What is the difference between 'estos,' 'esos,' and 'aquellos'?

Spanish has three levels of distance: 'estos' (these, near the speaker), 'esos' (those, near the listener), and 'aquellos' (those over there, far from both).

Can 'estos' stand alone without a noun?

When used as pronouns rather than adjectives, 'estos' and 'estas' can stand alone, as in '¿Cuáles quieres? — Estos' (Which ones do you want? — These ones).

Spanish vocabulary · Beginner

How to Say These in Spanish

Written by Sofia Ramirez, Lead Spanish Curriculum Editor · Reviewed May 2026

Estos · adjective · EHS-tohs

The Spanish word for these is 'estos' (masculine) or 'estas' (feminine), used to indicate plural items near the speaker. As demonstrative adjectives, they must match the gender of the noun they modify.

Pronounce 'estos' as EHS-tohs and 'estas' as EHS-tahs. The stress falls on the first syllable in both forms.

Estos zapatos son muy cómodos.

These shoes are very comfortable.

these in Spanish: Quick Reference

Below are the most common Spanish words for these, with pronunciation and regional usage notes.

Spanish	English	Pronunciation	Region / Register
estos	these	EHS-tohs	Default, widely understood
estas	these		feminine plural

How Native Speakers Use Estos

Real example sentences across three contexts you'll actually run into.

Pointing out items

Quiero comprar estas flores.

I want to buy these flowers.

Shopping at a flower market.

Showing possessions

Estos libros son de mi hermano.

These books belong to my brother.

Identifying ownership.

Making a choice

Prefiero estas galletas a las otras.

I prefer these cookies to the other ones.

Expressing a preference.

Avoid These Mistakes When Using Estos

Using masculine for feminine nouns

Incorrect: Estos manzanas están maduras.

Correct: Estas manzanas están maduras.

'Manzanas' is feminine, so the demonstrative must also be feminine: 'estas,' not 'estos.'

Confusing 'estos' with 'esos'

Incorrect: Esos libros aquí son míos.

Correct: Estos libros aquí son míos.

'Estos' refers to things close to the speaker (these), while 'esos' refers to things farther away (those). If the items are near you, use 'estos.'

Lock in these Vocabulary with the Parrot Method

Why word lists alone don't stick

Memorizing a translation feels productive, but most learners forget 70% of what they studied within 48 hours. Vocabulary needs spaced repetition AND real-world exposure to transfer to long-term memory.

See Estos used by native speakers

Parrot's short-form videos feature native speakers using estos in real situations. Context-based exposure beats flashcards, you hear Estos zapatos son muy cómodos. while watching someone live the moment, connecting meaning, sound, and rhythm at once.

Save, review, repeat, stay consistent

Tap any word to save it. Parrot's spaced-repetition system surfaces it right before you'd forget, no manual flashcard creation. The watch, parrot back, save, review cycle turns recognition into fluency at 2.7x the speed of traditional study.

Common Questions About these in Spanish

When do I use 'estos' versus 'estas'?: Use 'estos' before masculine plural nouns and 'estas' before feminine plural nouns — the gender of the demonstrative must always match the noun it modifies.
What is the difference between 'estos,' 'esos,' and 'aquellos'?: Spanish has three levels of distance: 'estos' (these, near the speaker), 'esos' (those, near the listener), and 'aquellos' (those over there, far from both).
Can 'estos' stand alone without a noun?: When used as pronouns rather than adjectives, 'estos' and 'estas' can stand alone, as in '¿Cuáles quieres? — Estos' (Which ones do you want? — These ones).